The main research topics on Mountain Agriculture at the FaST-FUB Innsbruck, Treffen Forschungszentrum Berglandwirtschaft 2014

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1 The main research topics on Mountain Agriculture at the FaST-FUB Innsbruck, Treffen Forschungszentrum Berglandwirtschaft 2014 Fabrizio Mazzetto FaST Research Vice-Dean

2 FaSTs PILLARS MEC ENF BSC BASIC SCIENCES AGR ENE

3 Teaching & Reasearch FaST Organization 2 Educational Programs: Engng + AgriEnv 2 Bachelors + 2 Masters + 2 PhDs Interacting Educational programs, even including research activities High multidisciplinary researches Focus of AgriFood on Mountain Environments Role on future TechnoPark-BZ: responsabilities on Alpine Technologies

4 Agriculture & Food Main current TOPICS Soil fertility, plant nutrition & root phisiology Insect- and microbe-plant interactions C-flux and C-footprint in AgriSystems Farm machinery & mechanization, precision farming & information management Quality & traceability of mountain food products Food processing & nanotechnologies Food marketing & consumer behaviour

5 Soil fertility, plant nutrition & root phisiology Maintain and increase soil fertility and nutrient use in AgrySystems Rhizoshere management: nutrient mobilization, root behaviour (exudates), plant traslocation M&M: stable isotopes, rhizotrones, root image analyses Plant nutrition

6 C-Flux & C-Footprint To study ecological parameters influencing primary yields (e.g.: NEP = Net Ecosystem Production; NPP = Net Primary Production etc.) of AgriSystems (focus on orchards) To assess the vegetable production efficiency and the C-Footprint of agricultural products, including physiological and operational factors (LCA, certification EPD) Continuous measurements of carbon, water and energy fluxes since 2009 by eddy covariance stations Flux measurements at the canopy level have been coupled with soil respiration measurements and biometric sampling in order to build a picture of the whole Carbon cycle of the orchard. Plant physiology

7 How ensuring quality of vegetable products in mountain areas Analysing the effects of environmental conditions (altitude and light) on product quality Strawberry production: effects of altitude on phenolic compound. Negative correlation between altitude and anthocyanins concentration Testing the effects of a new LED lighting system on strawberry growth and quality Quality of Productions

8 Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in tree ecosystems Mycorrhizal fungi may help to achieve a more sustainable agricultural management Mycorrhizal symbiosis improves nutrient and water uptake, protects from pathogens, promotes carbon sequestration We also evaluate the effect of management on mycorrhizal symbiosis Methods Quantification by counting stained roots Stable isotopes Mycorrhizae

9 Food technology

10 Running projects Quality control: sensor array systems (electronic nose and tongue) to monitor quality changes induced by processing. Innovative technologies nanostructured materials for food processing, sensors, biocatalytic membranes Within the future TechnoPark FUB will have a new lab equipped with pilot plants dedicated to food technology, such as pulsed light, high pressure, supercritical fluid extractor, HTST/UHT, spray driers, etc. Food technology

11 Running projects ORIGINALP: Authenticity of food products: determination of the geographical origin of foods based on the C, N, O, H isotopes values. Food & Isotopes

12 Food Marketing & Behaviour The general approach EU agri-food policy is oriented to a «knowledge-based bio-economy», leading towards a «consumer-driven agriculture» with the consequent implementation and strengthening of a «fork-to-farm» approach to agricultural sector development To generate relevant markets insights for the local agri-food sector to better understand customer and consumer requirements, necessary for market-driven innovation and product/process optimisation E.g.: Local agricultural development of the Ega Valley near Bolzano

13 Technical innovations Design, planning and use of farm and forestry machinery Applications of IT and Farm Information Systems (FIS) supporting tactical and operational tasks at farms Automation for mountain agriculture: tele-operated systems and precision agriculture solutions Information management: how to get automatic data logging for crop and operational monitoring Ergonomy & Safety on hard/extreme working sites Machinery field tests & certification Application of renewable energy sources in farm processes Machinery & Mechanisation

14 Mechanizing Pergola training systems in vineyard Machinery Prototyping

15 Conclusions Working in an high interdisciplinary and multisectorial research environment, with many opportunity of interfacing engineering, agricultural and environmental aspects Great availability in international cooperations Common Projects already established in educational programms: EMMA = Master Degree on Environmental Management of Mountain Areas (unibz + uniinbrk, EUREGIO framework) Was sind die nächste Gelegenheit sich zu treffen? INTERREG, H2020? An invitation to remain in contact!!! You ll be readdressed to the proper people fabrizio.mazzetto@unibz.it